Healthy food is probably one of the more controversial topics in the food world, second to the topic of pizza toppings. Some people are devout healthy food lovers, while the rest of us won’t exactly say we aren’t, but would also rather eat anything else. And that makes sense, because most of the time, healthy food either ranges from bland to downright disgusting, or is obscenely expensive, and that makes eating well perhaps the hardest part of the health journey. Recently, a new competitor has made itself known in The Village School’s local healthy food circuit: Hummus Republic, open at 1635 Eldridge Pkwy, is the new Mediterranean bowl and wrap bar, branding itself as the go-to spot for all your health and hummus cravings. But is this new spot worth your time, let alone your money?
Let’s start with the location. It’s close to the school, being about a three-minute drive or a 20-minute walk from The Village School’s campus, which is closer than the next nearest health bar, Salata. As for the atmosphere, it has pretty much the same environment or interior as any other restaurant of its type: so, open, clean, and pretty minimalistic, which is about what you’d want from a place you’d want to go to get a bite after a workout. There’s plenty of seating, although it is not often very busy, so it’s as good a place to sit down and eat as it is to take out.
The service is also fast, which is important for students who want to go and pick up something quick to eat during their lunch break. The servers are cooperative and responsive; they’re mindful of your instructions, they give you good portions and they make sure to make you aware of how much everything costs– often a fatality of many food spots of the type. Additionally, the servers will offer you a sample of their hummus selection (which, in accordance with their name, is of substantial variety), giving you an opportunity to get familiar with your meal before you sink your teeth, and money, into it.
The food itself is wonderful as well. They offer you a bowl, a pita wrap, and a regular (spinach or wheat) wrap. Their variety of hummus is unique and delicious, ranging from your basic hummus to zesty feta. But their food isn’t just limited to their bar; they have a pretty decent selection of sides, especially compared to competitors such as Salata or Cava, with everything from street fries to chicken strips to a ton of Mediterranean snacks and an equally interesting selection of unique drinks, featuring your typical soda foundation alongside a selection of house drinks such as strawberry lychee or pomegranate lemonade. Even if you don’t particularly like Mediterranean (or healthy) food, the food at Hummus Republic is both delicious and diverse enough that it’s hard not to find something to enjoy.
The final confounding variable for any good food spot is the prices. Health bars tend to be a bit pricier than people would like; however, for such a place, Hummus Republic prices are pretty reasonable. For one, the range of prices is more minimal than places like Cava or Chipotle. A bowl goes for $14, a wrap for $13, and a pita for $12. This might seem alarming at first– after all, at Chipotle, you can get a burrito for as little as $11– but that price can go up to $16, and more often than not, it ends up being well over $13. The prices at Hummus Republic are consistent. None of the proteins cost any extra, and there’s only really one or two things that cost more, which they explicitly label for you. Because of this consistency, the location is overall cheaper than a lot of its competitors.
With nice vibes, good taste, and relative affordability, Hummus Republic earns an 8/10. There’s nothing about it that exactly stands out, but between quality food and quality prices, it’s certainly special and worth checking out. So next time you decide you want to turn your diet around and commit to a healthy lifestyle, or are just feeling in the mood for a genuinely good, refreshing meal, remember that Hummus Republic is around the corner for all your health and hummus needs.
